Much of the tax revenue would go to research on cancer and other tobacco-related diseases.

The UC Board of Regents today (Sept. 15) endorsed the California Cancer Research Act, slated for the June 5, 2012 general election, which will add a $1 per pack tax on cigarettes.

In addition to a new five-cent-per-cigarette tax (the equivalent to $1 a pack), the initiative imposes another five-cent tax for each cigarette a dealer may have in stock. The taxes will generate approximately $855 million in the first year, according to the proposed legislation.

Under the act, 60 percent will go to research on cancer and other tobacco-related diseases, 15 percent for facilities and equipment for health services and research and 20 percent for tobacco cessation and prevention programs.

The act would establish a California Cancer Research Life Sciences Innovation Trust Fund, to be overseen by a nine-member Cancer Research Citizens Oversight Committee. That committee would consist of the chancellors of the campuses that are members of the California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (UCSF, UC Santa Cruz and UC Berkeley), three members from among the directors of National Institutes of Health (NIH) Cancer Centers located in California (many of whom are from a UC campus), one cardiovascular physician from an academic medical center, and two tobacco-related illness advocates.

Related links:
-Full text of the ballot measure (PDF)
-Analysis of the proposed initiative by the Legislative Analysts’ Office (PDF)
-Regents item (PDF)